Brake



2 Sheets-Shem l INVENTOR ATTORNEY BRAKE May 14, 1935. P. PEPPER Filed May 1, 1034 ferc ybpfie May 1 4, 1935. P, E E 2,001,630

BRAKE Filed May 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 farayfepper iN\/ENTOR ATTORN EY Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to brakes for trailers of motor vehicles and more particularly for operating mechanism for the wheel brakes of the trailer, and has for the primaryobject the pro- 5 vision of a mechanism of the above stated character which will automatically apply and release the brakes of the trailer by the latters increase and decrease of speed of travel relative to the motor vehicle and also automatically release the brakes of said trailer during the backing of the latter by the'motor vehicle, consequently relieving the brakes of the motor vehicle of the burden of retarding the speed of travel of the trailer during the slowing down or stopconnections between the motor vehicle and the trailer and the necessity of brake adjustments under load variances of the trailer.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. A

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a trailer connected to a fragmentary portion of a motor vehicle and equipped with a brake 30 operating mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view illustrating a trailer and showing the brake operating mechanism applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the brakes of the trailer in applied position by the brake operating mechanism.

Figure i is a similar view showing the brakes of the trailer in released position by said brake 40 operating mechanism during backingv of the trailer by the motor vehicle.

Referring in detail to the drawings, e numeral I indicates a fragmentary portion a motor vehicle to which is connected a trailer 2 of the two-wheel type and including the body 3 supported to an axle 4 by springs 5, the axle 4 having the usual ground wheels 6 journaled thereto and equipped with brakes I of the conventional type found in motor. vehicle construc- 0O tion. A draft tongue 8 is mounted to the body 3 of the trailer for a limited sliding movement in either direction and at the forward end is provided with a suitable coupling 9 for connccting the tongue to the motor vehicle I. A guide It) applied to the forward end of the body ping of the motor vehicle and obviates brake.

:connected to the arms l3.

tongue 8.

(Cl. 1881i2) 3 aids in supporting the tongue for a limited sliding movement relative to the body.

A brake operating shaft ii is journaled to the body 3 of the trailer arid is equipped with angularly related arms i2 and H3. The arms H are connected to the brakes i by brake rods M. The arm i2 is pivotally connected to a link i5 which is in turn pivotally connected to operating members Hi. The rear ends of the operating members i8 are pivoted to a link it and the latter 10 is pivoted to a bracket it carried by the body 3. The link i8 forms a movable fulcrum for the operating members it and the latter are slotted to slidably receive bolts 28 carried by a plate 2| secured to the upper face of the tongue 8. Interposed between the plate 2| and the operating members it and mounted upon the bolts are coil springs 22.

The trailer when under towing action by the motor vehicle i, the brakes I are in released position, as shown in Figure 1; with the operating members i6 paralleling the tongue 8 and the link l8 assuming a position forwardly and downwardly withrespect to the bracket l9. The arm I 2 and link l5 extend forwardly and upwardly with respect to the shaft ll while the arms l3 assume a downward and forward position relative to the shaft ii. Spring hangers 24 are employed between the springs 5 and the body 3 and the spring hangers 24 which are arranged for- Wardly and rearwardly of the axle '4 have connected thereto coil springs 25 that are in turn The action of the springs 25 is to position the parts for the release of the brakes l. However, the brakes I are of the self-releasing type when braking force is released thereto, consequently the springs 25 are employed only as mediums to assure the release of the brakes i when relieved of braking force.

The front spring hangers 24 form an abutment 4 for cushioning devices 26 and 21 carried by the The cushioning devices 26 and 21 absorb sudden forces due to the quick starting forward or backward of the motor vehicle preventing shock from reaching the body of the trailer. V

In operation, during the slowing down or stopping of the motor vehicle, the momentum of the trailer causes the body and tongue to move relative to each other and the various arms and links heretofore described to assume the position as shown in Figure 3, applying the brakes l -to the wheels of the trailer. A lag of the trailer relative to the motor vehicle causes the parts to assume the positions shown in Figure 1 and sequently the brakes 'I remain in released position so that the trailer may be successfully backed by the :motor vehicle.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In combination with a trailer having ground wheels provided with brakes, a draft tongue mounted to the trailer fora limited sliding movement relative thereto, means for connecting the tongue to a motor vehicle, a shaft journaled to the trailer, depending arms integral with the shaft, means connecting the arms to the brakes, an arm integral with the shaft and arranged angularly to the first-named arms, and an operating mechanism between the tongue and the second-named arm and connected to the trailer for automatically applying and releasing the brakes during the increase or decrease of speed of travel of the trailer; relative to the motor vehicle, and to maintain the brakes in released position during the backing of the trailer trailer having necting the tongue to a motor vehicle, a shaft Journale'd to the trailer, depending arms integral with the shaft, means connecting the arms to the brakes, an arm integral with the shaft and arranged angularly to the first-named arms, a pivotally mounted fulcrum carried by the trailer, operating memberspivoted to saidfulcrum and pivotally and slidably connected to the tongue, and a link pivoted tov said members and to the second-named arm whereby the brakes will be {automatically applied and released during the increase and decrease of speed of travel of the trailer relative to the motor vehicle and to maintain the brakes in released position during the backing of the trailerby said motor vehicle.

PERCY PEPPER. 

